Brennan Confirmed to Lead the C.I.A.

Source: New York Times

The Senate on Thursday afternoon approved John O. Brennanís nomination to lead the Central Intelligence Agency by a vote of 63 to 34.

The vote followed a filibuster by Senator Rand Paul, who spent nearly 13 hours on the Senate floor in pursuit of more information about the administrationís domestic drone policy. After receiving a brief letter from Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. assuring him that the president does not have the ďauthority to use a drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil,Ē Mr. Paul declared his effort a success, and ultimately voted to end debate (though against the nomination), bringing the total votes in favor of cloture to 81 over 16 against.

The final confirmation vote, however, revealed some unusual coalitions.

Two Democrats, Senators Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, joined Republicans in voting against the nomination. Several of the early participants in Mr. Paulís filibuster, including Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, and Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, voted to confirm Mr. Brennanís nomination.